Railroad joint



May 13 1924.

E. A. COPELAND RAILROAD JOINT Filed Nov. 10 1923 an: .;m:--:F- :2 ZM WmVENTy.

Z. /7. 00 06 and BY ATTORNEYS.

May 13 1924. 1,493,665

E. A. COPELAND RAILROAD JOINT Filed Nov. 10 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet IINVENTO l /7. (.0 /204 BY Patented May 13, 1924.

STATES g 1,493,662; PATENT FFICE.

ENDS A. COPELAND, O13 WYNDAL, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD JOINT.

Application filed November 10, 1923. Serial No. 674,022.

To all who 1n it may concern:

Be it known that I, IlNOS A. COPE-LAND,

citizen of the United States, residing at This invention relates torailroad joints,

and the object of the invention is the construction of a simple andeflicient device for holding the contiguous ends of two rails securelytogether, against accidental displacement or undue spreading.

\Vith this and other objects in view, my invention comprises certainnovel combinations, construction and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying; drawings, andmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view of the device.

Figure 3 is a. section taken on line 33, Fig. 2, and looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view of the rail showing theposition of my device prior to placing the bolts and nuts thereon, whileFigure 5 is a similar View, showing the device in the position itfinally assumes when the nuts and bolts are thereon, as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a. sectional View, taken on line 6-4), Fig. 2, and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings by numerals,

l designates the rails the abutting or contiguous ends of which are inmy improved.

railroad joint device.

The device is formed in one piece and comprises a base 2, in the edgesof which are formed notches 3. Spikes I are placed against the deviceand are driven into the ties 5 for holding the device upon said ties. Informing the notches 3 I preferably cut a part of the base to produce adownwardlyextending prong 6 that penetrates the top portion of the tie,assisting in efliciently holding the device to the ties.

Integral with the base are slightly resilient side portions 7 each ofwhich is adapted to fit snugly against rail 1, as clearly shown in Fig.5.

The rails l are provided with horizontally extending elongated apertures8 which reg ister with apertures 8 in the portions 8 for receiving thebolts 9, Fig. 1. There is a certain amount of expansion and contractionof the rails, so that by elongating the apertures S I provide anefficient means for allowing this action without injury to the device orimpairing its efficiency. In fact, the elongation of the apertures 8increases the efficiency of the entire device and thereby the lifethereof too.

On the inner face of each side portion 7, and contiguous to the base 2 Iform a longitudinally-extending groove 9, and also on each side portion,at the center thereof, and at the point where the side portion engagesthe base and the web of the rail I form a secondlongitudinally-extending groove 10. A plurality of V-shaped lugs 11 arecut in the grooves 9 and 10 producing biting edges 12 that grip therails and slightly penetrating'the same to hold the rails in position,relieving practically all of the strain off the bolts so as to produce amore eiiicient and durable device.

- The device, prior to inserting the bolts, assumes the position shownin Fig. 2, then upon placing the rails in position as shown in Fig. tand inserting the bolts 9, and placing the nuts on the bolts, the sideportions will be drawn tight upon the rails (see Figs. 1 and 5) causingthe device to grip the rails and efficiently holding the same againstaccidental displacement, or creeping by means of the biting edges 12 andthe bolts 9.

lVhile I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, andhave illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minorchanges or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates, during the extensive manufacture of the same andI, therefore, reserve the right to make such alterations or changes asshall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base,resilient side portions extending from said base, and said side portionsprovided with cutting edges formed upon their inner faces.

2. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a base, resilient side portions extending from said base,said side portions provided contiguous to the base withlongitudinally-extending grooves, biting edges formed in said grooves,said side portions provided with a second set oflongitudinally-extending grooves between the upper and lower portions,and said second set of longitudinally extending grooves provided withbiting edges.

3. As a new article oil-manufacture a rail joint device comprising ahorizontal base provided on its edges with downwardly-extendingpenetrating prongs, out from the base, a pair of resilient side portionsintegral with said base, said side portions pro vided on their innerfaces with sets of longitudinally-extending grooves, said side portionsprovided with V-shaped lugs in said grooves producing biting edges inthe grooves, and said side portions provided with bolt-recevingregistering apertures, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. 7

INOS A, COPELAND.

